I have known dr andrew mcnaughton for the past ten, fifteen years and
ever since I have known him every single day of his life was devoted to do
good to people, not only politically speaking but as a human being he was
very caring about individuals, about the well being of others.

He cared a lot about East Timor. He risked his life, he put aside his
medical practise to help Timor Leste achieve its freedom which we have
done and ever since he has also tried to help with research and arguments
on the timor sea negotiations to get a better deal for the people of East
Timor, so we miss him thoroughly. We miss a great human being. We pray for
his soul, so that his life serve as a lesson for all others to do as good
as he has done.

Q: What do you think was the most significant thing he achieved for
East Timor or contributed to East Timor?

I think things that he has done tremendously, with risk of his life,
was coming to Timor Leste, in the eighties and nineties, bringing in
cameras to capture situations in Timor Leste such as torture, the fight
the oppressive rule of the Indonesian army and smuggling the film out and
the advertising, publicising to the rest of the world. I think this was
among the most generous and daring gestures that he has made, that could
have cost him his life.

Q: Do you think actions like this helped contribute to the independence
of Timor Leste, and getting those images out to the outside world?

Q: Absolutely, Dr Andrew McNaughton's work, the quality of his work,
integrity of his research, did contribute tremendously to advertising, to
publicising what was hidden from the world and it contributed to our
independence and freedom.

Q: Are there any in particular images or outstanding bits of footage
that contributed to getting the picture of what was happening in East
Timor to the outside world?

He had a footage that was shot in the mountains with the resistance
with clandestine network. I have no access to this footage right now, but
I remember back then they were invaluable for our struggle for freedom.

Q: Was he one of the greatest advocates, do you think, for independence
for Timor Leste?

Yes Dr Andrew McNaughton was one of the greatest advocates we have had
in Australia, there were many other advocates in the United States and
Europe. But in Australia he was among the finest advocates we have had.

correction by Wes: indicating the impact Andrew had in a short time,
his first involvement in East Timor was 1992 and his firest trip there was
not before 1993 or 4.